random thoughts – Day 2,061 (Friday) – peeping cat

Kiki and the peeping outdoor cat.

This morning, Kiki went to the window like she often does. Then she began making noises, which is very unusual. The face of a black cat was in the lower left corner of the window near where Kiki stood and at first I thought it was Kiki’s reflection in the glass. Then I noticed it was missing the white trim under her mouth and chin leading to her tuxedo shirtfront. Kiki’s weird noises got louder and weirder. It was definitely not the sweet little meow that sounds like “hello” when she and I greet each other. Not hostile. Not easy to define. Just different. Did I think to video the interaction instead of just taking photos? No, I did not.

The black cat that wanders the neighborhood was peeping through the screen and the window. Kiki was right there, inches away and making weird noises, with the glass and the screen between them.

Have they “met” before? Are they friends? Enemies? Frenemies? I have no clue. 

A couple times in Lowell a neighborhood black cat would sit on the deck staring towards the glass sliding doors. I don’t know if Kiki ever saw that one. She was usually upstairs under the bed when I would see that cat violating our privacy.

The Gardner black cat and several other outdoor cats frequently pass through the yard and driveway, usually traveling solo. Once, I saw one of the cats lounging under a bush with the turkeys in the back yard. This was the first time I’ve seen one this close to the house – perched on the bay window ledge and literally looking in through the window.

After a few minutes, the outside black cat turned and left. Under the overgrown rhododendron, along the front steps, across the yard, across the street and into another yard. Kiki remained at the window, watchful. 

Judging by the extreme and wild fluffy volume of Kiki’s usually sleek tail during the “visit” it didn’t seem she enjoyed the cat hanging around outside her window. She looked out the window for a couple minutes after the visitor left, maybe to make sure it was really gone, then headed for the bedroom.